Golovkin vs. Proksa: Middleweight Champ's Unrivaled Fighting Style Steals Show

After Gennady Golovkin's (24-0, 21 KOs) jaw-dropping American boxing premiere on Saturday night against Polish challenger Grzegorz Proksa (28-2, 21 KOs), most people are talking about who's next for the WBA Middleweight Champion.

I say we take a minute to acknowledge Golovkin's dominant performance in Verona, N.Y. and commend him for bringing us what was a phenomenal bout to watch thanks to his entertaining style inside the ring.

The 30-year-old, who won a boxing silver medal for Kazakhstan at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, sent Proksa to the mat not once, but twice.

A talented fighter in his own right, Proksa was caught off guard and knocked down in both the first and fourth rounds before going down for a third and final time when the fight ended in the fifth.

Golovkin's aggressive style has allowed him to win all 24 of his professional fights, and win 21 of them via knockout. His last 11 fights have resulted in victories by knockout. 

You have to go all the way back to June 2008 to find the last bout Golovkin let reach a judges' decision. 

In a day and age when mixed martial arts has begun overshadowing boxing for its entertainment value, Golovkin provides hope for the fading sport. 

Put that guy in the ring against a worthy challenger, and people will watch every time. I know I will.

Here was Golovkin's reaction (via ESPN.com's Dan Rafael) to his fifth-round victory over Proksa on Saturday night:

"

I'm ready. I'm happy. My first fight on HBO. My dream is to fight on HBO and in America. I'm happy now.

"

It's not hard to root for a fighter who is risking his undefeated record and putting his reputation as the best middleweight boxer in Europe on the line to prove he's the best on the planet.

With so many other big boxing stars—ahem Floyd Mayweather Jr, ahem Manny Pacquiao—afraid or keen on ducking the sport's best to preserve their record and marketability, Golovkin is a refreshing addition to American boxing. 

His fighting style will allow him to beat anyone in the world moving forward, and to entertain his fans and viewers alike in the process.

There is something special about Gennady Golovkin. The destructive style he fights with and the fearlessness he displays are sure to make him a fan favorite in the sport in no time. 

Follow Bleacher Report Featured Columnist Patrick Clarke on Twitter for more boxing take, discussion, reaction and analysis.